Choosing a heat diffuser/flame tamer

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   I'm in the market for a heat diffuser for my glass-topped stove. My budget is hovering around 20 to 25$, including shipping, and will be used primarily with clay/earthernware vessels - such as a tajine - or with cast iron.

A seracrch at Amazon.com provided these results:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=heat+diffuser

I like the notion of getting a cast iron one, but am not married to the idea.

Any suggestions or advice?

Thanks -

Ron

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TasunkaWitko Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 25 January 2010 Location: Chinook, MT Status: Offline Points: 9389	Post Options Post Reply Quote TasunkaWitko Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Choosing a heat diffuser/flame tamer Posted: 18 September 2012 at 13:06
	I'm in the market for a heat diffuser for my glass-topped stove. My budget is hovering around 20 to 25$, including shipping, and will be used primarily with clay/earthernware vessels - such as a tajine - or with cast iron. A seracrch at Amazon.com provided these results: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=heat+diffuser I like the notion of getting a cast iron one, but am not married to the idea. Any suggestions or advice? Thanks - Ron
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Daikon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Chef's Apprentice Joined: 20 October 2011 Location: San Francisco Status: Offline Points: 381	Post Options Post Reply Quote Daikon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 September 2012 at 13:44
	Do you even really need a diffuser for a glass-top stove? I was under the impression that the glass already works as a diffuser. Where you really need a diffuser is when you want low, even heat over a gas burner, where the gas jets are distinct heat sources that are not evenly distributed across the bottom of the pan.

TasunkaWitko Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 25 January 2010 Location: Chinook, MT Status: Offline Points: 9389	Post Options Post Reply Quote TasunkaWitko Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 February 2013 at 13:56
	>>>Do you even really need a diffuser for a glass-top stove?<<< That's a good question, and to be honest, I don't know. My impetus for "needing" one is based on our recent tagine conversation, where a heat diffuser was recommended: http://foodsoftheworld.activeboards.net/i-went-to-the-big-city-and-bought-a-tajine_topic1926.html It is entirely possible that the properties of a glass-topped stove would preclude the need for one, but I figured for less than 4$, I might as well give one a shot, so I ordered one from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00012K5P2/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 The reviews of this and several similar products all agreed that it was good for clay pot cooking on the stovetop, so if nothing else, I'll feel better about using it when I'm cooking with my cazuela or tajine. Then again, when cooking with them (as well as cast iron), I never put the heat above medium anyway, so it might be a moot point. We'll see when it arrives ~
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TasunkaWitko Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 25 January 2010 Location: Chinook, MT Status: Offline Points: 9389	Post Options Post Reply Quote TasunkaWitko Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 15 April 2013 at 09:32
	I used this for the first time yesterday under a big pot of home-made marinara sauce that simmered for several hours. Pros - it works - absolutely no denying that. I didn't have a single issue with anything sticking or burning to the bottom of the enameled cast iron Dutch oven - not even a hint of anything untoward. Cons - with the handle, it's a little awkward to use. I ended up bending the handle upward a little at an angle, but that was no big deal. It also seems a little flimsy, as if it is made of extra-heavy aluminum foil ~ but for 3 bucks, it's just fine for my usage. Not sure how long it will last, but for now, I'm happy with it and have no complaints ~
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africanmeat Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Chef Joined: 20 January 2012 Location: south africa Status: Offline Points: 910	Post Options Post Reply Quote africanmeat Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 15 April 2013 at 13:43
	I got one just like this that i use to boil milk when i do cheese . so i don't burn the pot . it works like a dream
	Ahron